Genesis 25:6 Commentary and Bible Study

The other sons apart from Isaac are all called ‘the sons of the concubines’. This refers to Hagar and Keturah. Although Abraham did not include his other children in the inheritance, he still provided for them. He loved all his children. This is apparent from his pleading for Ishmael before God (Genesis 17:18) and his great displeasure over sending him away at Sarah’s insistence (Genesis 21:11). He gives gifts to all his children and presumably substantial gifts. However in recognition of Isaac’s sole inheritance, he sends them away from Isaac and does not allow them to live alongside him. The promise is to Isaac alone. Abraham knows the difficulty of even friends living in close proximity (Genesis 13:7-8). He knows there will be trouble in the future if Ishmael’s descendants and those of his other sons start to contest the occupation of the land with Isaac’s sons. They cannot both live in the same area. The land is given to Isaac and his children and the promise is to them, not to any of the other sons.The words ‘while he was still living’ or ‘in his being yet alive’ refer to Abraham. He made known his will in this matter so that no one need be in doubt about this. His other children did not just move away from Isaac after Abraham died, but this was so important that even while he was still alive, and might have wanted to keep his children near him, he in fact sent them away for the sake of the covenant.